YouTube, a video-sharing platform is reportedly expanding its offerings for creators in the South Korean market. The move has been taken to empower them with tools to generate additional income. The news rolled out today, which further stated that the platform will introduce its shopping affiliate program which is specifically designed for Korean content creators.
This program will further enable the eligible YouTubers to ‘tag’ products directly within their Shorts, videos and livestreams on the platform. Viewers could click on these tags to be directed affiliated retailer's website for making their purchases.
South Korea joins the shopping program party
S. Korea is said to become the second country to benefit from the program, following the successful launch in the US last June (2023). This initiative will enable the creators of Korea, to join in the growing trend of online shopping and it will potentially earn commissions on product sales driven by their content.
Expanding partnerships and empowering creators
Initially, a South Korean e-commerce giant named Coupang will be the primary partner for the program, which will facilitate the introduction of brands which are registered on its platform through YouTube channels.
However, YouTube has expressed its intention to expand partnerships with other commerce platforms in the future, which will offer creators more options and flexibility.
Opening doors for direct sales
Beyond the affiliate program, YouTube is further taking its support for Korean creators to step into direct sales. Later this month (June 2024), the platform is set to launch a new function which will specifically work in the Korean market.
This innovative tool will further enable the creators to easily open their stores which are directly on the YouTube Shopping list, which comes with the functionality which was developed in collaboration with Korean e-commerce platform company Cafe24 Corp.- it aims to empower creators to establish a sales presence within the YouTube ecosystem.
Creators and consumers- Building bridges
Michelle Lee, head of YouTube's Content Partnership in Korea said, "Creators have always played an important role in providing viewers with useful and authentic shopping information throughout their purchasing journey.”
He further said, "We are excited to see how creative Korean creators will use these features to create new shopping content." By introducing these innovative features, YouTube aims to bridge the gap between creators and consumers, fostering a more seamless shopping experience for viewers while providing Korean creators with valuable tools to grow their channels and generate income.
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Inputs from IANS
